On Jan 6, 12:20�pm, "Michael \"Dog3\"" > wrote:
> "Jean B." > :in
> rec.food.cooking
>
> > Sheldon wrote:
> >> "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
> >>>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090105/...ain_waterford_
> >>> ...
>
> >>> LONDON - Waterford Wedgwood PLC, the maker of classic china
> >>> and crystal, filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday after
> >>> attempts to restructure the struggling business or find a buyer
> >>> failed.
>
> <snip for space>
>
> >> People don't buy those products anymore, not since the advent of fast
> >> food... for years now folks have been conditioned to thinking fine
> >> dining acootiements are made of styrofoam, and the closest thing to
> >> fine crystal is saran wrap.
>
> Oh yes they do buy it. �Lots of it. People are sucked in by the name of
> "Waterford". �I worked for The Irish Crystal Company part time for well
> over a year. �It was a real neat experience. I learned much about the
> crystal trade. I learned a great deal about the manufacture process as
> well.
>
> <snip shower head horror story for space and story about nasty Waterford
> CS rep>
>
>
>
>
>
> >> I will never again buy Waterford,
> >> and I suppose now neither will anyone else... they deserve to have
> >> failed. �Right after that conversation with Waterford's cutomer
> >> service (no service) I tossed the entire crystal frame in the
> >> trash... the photo is now in a simple inexpensive wood frame I think
> >> made in the Philippines, and I like it better than that bulky
> >> grotesque hunk of way over priced bottle glass
>
> >> I firmly believe this is the reason why so many companies are
> >> failing, they don't give a crap about their customers, and the greedy
> >> *******s have cheapened their products to the point that they are not
> >> fit for their intended use. �I have no pity for the miserable creeps
> >> going kaput, good riddance to bad rubbish. �Folks will never miss
> >> Waterford.
>
> > I find the original subject sad, but in general you have a VERY
> > good point.
>
> Sheldon has an excellent point. More than excellent actually. �I don't
> recall the exact year but Waterford went through reorganization back in
> the late 70s or early 80s. They had a severe financial crunch. �They laid
> off many of their craftsmen who in turn, started their own company called
> Heritage Crystal. In order to expandand and stay profitable, Waterford
> decided to minimize their craftsmanship and go to machine made crystal.
> This was the beginning of their demise IMO. �When you pick up a piece of
> Waterford look on the box where it was made. You'll find many of the
> items are made in places like Belgravia etc. �These are all machine made
> products. �None of these items are hand blown by the craftsmen in
> Ireland. I'm not even sure some of the items marked made in Ireland are
> hand blown. �Waterford then decided to diversify into other areas.. �They
> are making Xmas ornaments and a lot of other items. �Machine made.. �At
> that point, Waterford was a household name and that is what was allowing
> them to hang on. �Waterford's product has been cheapened to the point of
> no return. You'll be paying for the name of Waterford and certainly not
> the quality of the item. �I suspect you'll be seeing Waterford in
> discount stores soon. �Much like the Martha Stewart line. Although the
> circumstances for the Stewart line are much different than the Waterford
> line will be.
>
> Heritage has always been superior crystal IMO. �It is all still hand
> blown and quite beautiful. �Of course they don't have the millions of
> different items Waterford put out but when you buy Heritage you're buying
> an heirloom piece. Heritage has not tried to become a household name. At
> least not yet. �When you look at comparable pieces of Waterford and
> Heritage you can tell the difference. �There are a few Waterford lines
> out there that are still hand blown and still quite nice. �These items I
> give as gifts on occassion. �Looks like it'll be Heritage from now on.
>
> Michael
Nowhere on the picture frame was it engraved with any identifying
marks, only way I knew it was a Waterford product (doesn't mean they
made it) is because I kept the box... in fact I at first had forgotten
what brand it was. All my Lalique pieces are engraved with their name
and serial number. I have many very nice crystal pieces of all types
from barware to candy dishes to vases to whimsical artworks. But the
entire crystal industry has been in decline ever since it was
ascertained that lead is a big health problem. I no longer use my
leaded crystal glassware and decanters, and neither should any of
yoose.